Decision details

Strategy for placement of children in care.

This report has been deferred from 16 October because of delay in collating information.

Members considered a report which provided:

·              Annual feedback upon the progress of the placement strategy for looked after children in York, which was originally agreed by elected members in October 2003.

·              Information about the key issues relating to the adoption, fostering and residential care elements of provision for looked after children

·              Statistical information about the adoption activity for City of York in the past year and provides an update on changes in the membership of the adoption panel.

·              A specific recommendation regarding the ongoing development of the local specialist fostering scheme

Members welcomed a more direct involvement in the establishment of the strategy for placement services as it allowed them to fulfil their corporate parenting responsibilities. 

The report detail that following inspection of the Local Authority children’s homes, both homes had received positive reports and the Glen had received the highest level 4 for an inspection outcome.   Members were pleased to see that this challenging and demanding service had been recognised externally and congratulated the staff at both homes on their good work.

The report detailed the five key changes from the implementation of the ACA 2002 and Members noted that the new regulations would help to standardise the adoption process.

The report highlighted how the fostering service was committed to increasing the number of foster carer households to 100 by 2009.  It was intended that 28 of those would be specialist placements for severely disabled young people, and teenagers with the most challenging behavioural or placement difficulties.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member:

i.              Note the updated information in relation to the placement strategy for looked after children in York.

ii.            Agree the extension of the specialist fostering scheme to afford the scope for recruitment of up to 8 new households in the next two years to ensure the capacity to place young people locally and avoid the additional cost of placing young people with higher cost independent fostering agencies.

iii.           Note the information about the adoption activity in the past year.

iv.           Note the changes following from the implementation of the ACA 2002 and specifically the wider responsibilities to provide adoption support to families.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:       That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed

REASON:            To ensure an effective placement strategy for looked after children in York.